Natural England
Farm and Conservation Service Higher Officer - ( Ref : 6764 )
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East Midlands (England), East of England, London (region), North East England, North West England, South East England, South West England, West Midlands (England), Yorkshire and the Humber
Job Summary
This position is based Nationally
Job Description
The Farm and Conservation Service (FCS) is a national team within National Delivery, providing a centralised delivery function and single point of contact for agri-environment, protected sites casework and integrated technical advice. The team brings together a dedicated and experienced mix of skills to support delivery across Protected Sites, Agri-Environment schemes including Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and SFI, the CS Facilitation Fund, Historic Environment and Inheritance Tax Exemption. FCS also contributes to the design and implementation of agri-environment and protected site reforms, helping Natural England respond to increasing demand and deliver nature recovery outcomes. This is a desk-based role.
Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities
- Support the delivery of high-quality agri-environment casework and technical advice, including Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier, SFI and related scheme activity.
- Provide clear, timely and consistent advice to internal and external customers, acting as part of a national single point of contact for agri-environment and protected sites enquiries.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues across FCS, Area Teams and national functions to complete casework, share learning and support consistent delivery standards.
- Contribute to continuous improvement by identifying risks, process improvements and opportunities to strengthen the delivery of agri-environment and protected sites work.
- Support the development and implementation of scheme and protected site reforms, helping FCS respond to increasing demand and deliver nature recovery outcomes.
Knowledge And Skills
- Knowledge of agri-environment schemes and their role in supporting environmental outcomes, sustainable land management and nature recovery. (Essential)
- Knowledge of Agri-environment and/or Protected Sites casework (Desirable)
- Ability to interpret guidance, evidence and case information to make sound, consistent decisions and provide clear technical advice. (Essential)
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain information clearly to a range of internal and external customers. (Essential)
- Well organised, with the ability to manage competing priorities, work accurately and deliver to agreed timescales in a busy national delivery environment. (Essential)
- Ability to work collaboratively across teams, share learning and own expertise and contribute to continuous improvement. (Essential)
- Experience of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier or SFI. (Desirable)
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Competencies
Competence 1
Professional competency
Technical Skills and Knowledge (STAR format is optional for this competency)
- A good record of delivery in a casework orientated environment. (Essential)
- Experience and knowledge of Environmental and Countryside Stewardship and/or Protected Sites, including experience of scheme delivery and SSSI consenting. (Desirable)
- Confidence in engaging with stakeholders and external customers over the phone and via email. (Essential)
- Ability to analyse and interpret information in order to provide accurate guidance. (Essential)
- Working knowledge of some, but not all, of: SharePoint, Mapping systems and tracking systems. (Essential)
Competence 2
Professional competency
Personal Effectiveness
- Be ambitious, identify and adopt ways to make improvements in your team and Natural England and inspire others to act. (Practitioner)
- Make and explain objective decisions which combine your professional judgement and evidence. (Practitioner)
- Act with integrity, addressing challenging issues and managing conflict through being open and objective. (Practitioner)
Competence 3
Professional competency
Work Delivery
- Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines. (Practitioner)
- Handle data responsibly, understand your role in good governance, and comply with delegations, policies, and procedures. (Practitioner)
Competence 4
Professional competency
Putting People at the Heart of the Environment
- Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and Natural England. (Practitioner)
- Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver Natural England’s vision, mission and aims. (Practitioner)
Person specification
Please Refer To Job Description
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
Please Refer To Job Description
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
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People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact:
- Name: Rachel Bowden
- Email: rachel.bowden@naturalengland.org.uk
- Telephone: 02080268439
Recruitment team
Further information
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